Make a noise for the boys

MAKE a noise for the boys is the appeal from Hungerford Town manager Bobby Wilkinson as his team goes into six make-or-break games that could seal a play-off chance of making Conference football.

Hungerford have four of those games at Bulpit Lane, and Wilkinson is hoping that will make the difference as the play-off race reaches a climax with a group of clubs jostling for places.

Without a game last week, Hungerford slipped out of the top five, but by only a point, and Wilkinson wants that ‘12th man’ to wipe out the gap.

“”Our little club is at the heart of it again,” he said. “Its just brilliant that we’re in it when lots of teams are going out on Saturday with nothing to play for.

“We have to be as positive as we've ever been and stick together now.

“Back the boys and make some noise! That’s what I’m saying. We need you and we need everyone with us to be positive.

“We need everyone with us, from the man walking his dog and everyone to come out of the house and support us, if only for four home games.

“I’m begging and asking you.”

The first of those home games is against Biggleswade Town on Saturday, and having watched them last week, Hungerford took the step inviting Reading League Mortimer to a game on Tuesday night where they adopted Saturday’s visitors’s style of play.

“I thank them for doing that at short notice,” said Wilkinson, “and it was really useful for us.

“Biggleswade are a very well organised side with a bit of pace and power up front, but our main concern is to worry about ourselves.

“Results last week were phenomenal for us,” he added. “Who would have seen three our of the four coming? But we’ve got to beat Biggleswade and there are no ‘bankers’ at this stage of the season.”

Wilkinson believes that St Neots have the best run-in but nothing is cut and dried. “It could be in 10 days,” he said,

“but Weymouth can be caught as well and I still say there is going to be a twist of the knife somewhere.”

The squad reports a clean bill of health and Mark Draycott, Alan O’Brien and Matt Collins, who all missed the draw at St Neots, all return.

They remain in the Premier Division’s bottom four however, probably dependant upon league re-shuffling for survival and on Saturday go to one of the clubs sliding down the table in Reading Town.

The Scours Lane club have waived the standard £6 admission charge for a ‘pay what you want’ day and, said chairman Kevin Brandstatter: “Fans can pay any amount they wish, anything from 50p up to £50. Hopefully, we will attract a few more people through the gate.”

Thatcham Town are sidelined until they play their final Hellenic League game of the season - at home to Newbury on Easter Monday.